In May 2023, I had the opportunity to deliver a 2-day workshop on Agile & Scrum Fundamentals for the Business Management team at QBE Insurance. The aim of the workshop was to introduce Agile concepts and the Scrum framework to help business leaders understand how they can support their teams in delivering value more effectively and efficiently. This session was specifically designed to bridge the gap between business strategy and operational execution by aligning the principles of Agile with business goals.

As the insurance industry increasingly embraces Agile methodologies, it’s crucial for business leaders to understand how Agile principles can help their teams stay responsive, flexible, and customer-centric. The workshop focused on fostering a mindset of collaboration and adaptability, while providing a practical understanding of how Scrum can be used to drive continuous delivery of business value.

Throughout the two days, the Business Management team was introduced to key elements of Agile, including the importance of delivering value early and often, managing expectations, and prioritizing work based on business needs. A major focus was placed on the Scrum Framework, exploring the roles, ceremonies, and artifacts that enable teams to work together in an organized, iterative way.

Agenda Highlights:

• Introduction to Agile – A comprehensive overview of Agile principles, and how they can be applied to deliver better outcomes in the business context.
• Overview of Scrum – A detailed breakdown of Scrum roles, including the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team, and their relevance to business leaders.
• Scrum Ceremonies in Action – An exploration of Scrum ceremonies like Sprint Planning, Sprint Review, and Retrospectives, and how these can be used to create better alignment between teams and business goals.
• Business Value and Backlog Management – Insights into how business leaders can collaborate with Scrum teams to prioritize and define the Product Backlog, ensuring that the most valuable features are delivered first.

One of the key activities during the workshop was a practical session where the team simulated an Agile planning exercise. We focused on aligning business priorities with the work that the teams were doing, showing how to break down high-level business goals into actionable user stories and epics. This hands-on activity helped the business management team understand how Scrum teams work and how their role in prioritizing work and providing feedback is essential to the success of an Agile project.

By the end of the workshop, attendees had a clearer understanding of how Agile principles could be applied in a business context to improve collaboration, speed to market, and customer satisfaction. The focus on **business alignment**, **continuous feedback**, and **prioritization** equipped the Business Management team with the tools they needed to support and enable their teams, helping to drive business outcomes in a more Agile and adaptable way.

Participants walked away with actionable insights on how to better collaborate with Scrum teams, ensure alignment with business objectives, and contribute to the overall success of Agile initiatives within the organization. The workshop fostered a deeper appreciation for the Agile mindset and highlighted the importance of strong, transparent collaboration between business and delivery teams in achieving long-term success.